Becoming more of an autodidact
After seeing Oppenheimer this past weekend, I’ve become more interested in physics. So I’ve begun the process of relearning, and hopefully moving beyond, the physics I learned in undergrad during my applied math degree. I’ve just started at the very basic stuff: vector operations (dot products, cross products) and I’m about to move into the opening phases of mechanics. Of course, this has necessitated a review of calculus, since it’s been ages since I’ve applied the chain rule or integrated by parts.
My ultimate goal is to go through much or all of this curriculum posted by Susan Rigetti. Just thinking about the various subfields of physics–E&M, cosmology, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics–makes my heart kind of perk up, like I’d just seen a roller coaster that I can’t wait to ride.
It makes me wonder if I should have majored in physics in college instead of applied math. I got into applied math because I thought it would be full of math problems as opposed to proofs. DUMB.
Obviously I have to intermingle my physics studies with my ACTUAL studies. I’m in the middle of psychology and nutrition for pre-nursing right now. Good thing those classes aren’t too hard, or I’d have no time at all for anything. I may still need to take a pause in the fall when I’m taking microbio and physiology.
If only I had unlimited time, energy, and resources to just learn what I wanted, when I wanted. I don’t know if there’s anything that would make me happier.